Professional ice hockey has been played in Italy since the 1920’s. In 2005 Milan hosted the International Championship of College Ice Hockey and Milan’s team, Hockey Milano Rossoblu (formally known as “The Vipers”), are a good team to watch.

Basketball

Olimpia Milano, founded in 1936, is one of Europe’s top basketball teams. They are the most successful team in Italy having taken 25 Italian titles and 3 European Champions Cups. If you’re a fan of shooting hoops you can watch them at the massive PalaLido sporting complex every Sunday.

Milan City Marathon

The annual marathon is a well organised and popular city marathon with runners who want a fast course. There is also the Stramilano half marathon which attracts up to 50,000 runners from all over the world and of all abilities. The route takes in all the city’s historical areas and for those of you who don’t have a babysitter you may be interested to note there’s also a 6km childrens’ marathon. That’ll teach them to keep asking “Are we there yet?”

Cycling

The Velodrome Vigorelli is the home of high speed cycle races in Milan and one of the best known in Italy. In fact, Milan is quite the city for cycling enthusiasts being the end point of the Giro d’Italia and the starting point of the Milano-San Remo classical race. The Milano-San Remo race began in 1907 without the organisers knowing for sure whether it was actually physically possible. Evidently it was and the course has now been extended to 300km making it the longest classic cycle race there is.

Formula 1

The Italian Grand Prix takes place in September at the famed Monza circuit which was built in 1922. With hard brakes and fast curves it is one of the fastest circuits around and beloved by Ferrari supporters who come in their thousands to cheer above the engine noise. Formula One fans should make sure they check out Acquati’s memorabilia and bookshop behind the paddock before they leave.